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Derrick Rose Makes Honest Revelation on his No. 1 for the Bulls

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Arnab Mondal | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 1:07 PM ET

The Chicago Bulls have announced that Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey will be retired on January 24, 2026, forever placing him among franchise legends like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. The ceremony will take place at the United Center after the Bulls’ matchup against the Boston Celtics, with a fan experience in the atrium and giveaways leading up to the event.

In response, Rose shared on Instagram, “The game has given me more than I ever could have imagined… This isn’t for me, this is for Chicago. Peace and Love, Pooh. 1.24.26.”

Rose also disclosed why he chose No. 1 for the Bulls. In high school at Simeon, he wore No. 25, a number reserved for the team’s best player. But his identity shifted in AAU, where he played with a different edge.

“My alter ego was number one, and I wore that in AAU,” Rose explained. “I played a lot different than I did in high school… I wanted to bring that version to the NBA.”

"I wore No. 25 in high school because the best player wore it, but my alter ego was No. 1"

Derrick Rose explains how he chose No. 1 for the Bulls pic.twitter.com/LwPAXORzc7
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 21, 2025

For Rose, the number symbolized confidence and a new chapter, one that carried him from Englewood to the rafters of the United Center.

Why Derrick Rose’s Legacy Earned a Jersey Retirement with the Bulls

Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement honors a legacy that reshaped Chicago basketball. The youngest MVP in NBA history, Rose averaged 25 points and 7.7 assists during his 2010-11 season, leading the Bulls to a 62-20 record and their first Eastern Conference Finals since 1998.

Across 406 games with Chicago, he posted career averages of 17.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds, ranking third in assists per game and ninth in scoring average in franchise history. He’s also the only Bull since Michael Jordan to record 2,000 points and 600 assists in a season, a feat that cemented his place in history.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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